Space Weather System Engineer

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY; Darmstadt; Hybrid; EUR 90.000 - 125.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

European Space Agency is seeking a Space Weather System Engineer to lead the definition and development of an integrated space weather capability for defence applications. You will translate user needs into system requirements and drive architecture and interfaces across ESA and industry partners.

The role requires a master’s degree and about five years of relevant experience, with strong requirements engineering, system architecture and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree in engineering or a scientific discipline is required.
• Experience in requirements engineering and system architecture is essential.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and with contractors.

Aufgaben

• Capture customer and end user needs and translate them into system requirements.
• Develop overall system architecture, interfaces and concept of operations.
• Coordinate inputs from ESA experts and industrial partners.
• Ensure coherence between sensors, data processing and services.
• Prepare project documentation and support tender/action phases.

Kenntnisse

Requirements engineering

System architecture

Risk assessment

Team collaboration

Technical analysis

Ausbildung

Master's degree in engineering or a scientific discipline

Tools

ECSS processes

Jobbeschreibung

Closing Date: 22 September 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

This is a fixed-term appointment with an initial duration of 4 years. Depending upon performance and organisational needs, the appointment may be extended up to a possible maximum duration of 8 years.

Description

Space Weather System Engineer, reporting to the Head of the Space Weather Office (SWO) within the Space Safety Programme Department, Directorate of Operations.

The Space Weather Office (OPS-SW) in Space Safety Programme Department is responsible for the definition, architecture and implementation of the ESA space weather system and for the delivery of the corresponding services. In this role, the SWO maintains space weather user requirements, analyses and evaluates European space weather assets and competencies, designs the architecture and develops the space weather system, including software applications, required ground systems, hosted payloads and small satellite missions. The Office is also responsible for implementing the space weather-related projects outside of the Space Safety Programme, such as tasks entrusted by the European Commission or national space weather projects.

As Space Weather System Engineer, you will work as a member of a multidisciplinary project team, including colleagues across ESA and industrial contractors, which is responsible for the definition and development of an integrated space weather capability for the Belgian defence sector.

You will be responsible for capturing customer needs and operational requirements through close interaction with end users, including the Belgian Ministry of Defence, translating them into technical and system-level requirements and defining the corresponding system architecture.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• capturing customer, end user and operational needs, building on the roadmap published by the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID) and translating them into system-level and technical requirements;
• developing the overall system architecture, functional breakdown, interfaces and concept of operations;
• assessing existing Belgian and ESA capabilities and identifying synergies, gaps, dependencies and required developments;
• supporting technical trade-offs, technology maturity assessments and implementation planning;
• coordinating technical inputs from ESA experts, scientific stakeholders and industrial contractors;
• ensuring coherence between sensors, data processing, models, forecasting tools and operational services;
• supporting the preparation of tender actions, contract kick-off, execution, reviews and formal contract closure after approved delivery of results relating to your area of responsibility;
• contributing to risk identification, development planning and preparation of future industrial activities;
• leading the requirements engineering of the overall ESA space weather system, ensuring reaffirmed user requirements and a proper flow-down to system requirements and space weather mission requirements;
• supporting the preparation and maintenance of project documentation, reports and review materials in compliance with ESA standards;
• supporting all project and Space Weather Office and Space Safety Programme reviews.

Strong system engineering background, including requirements engineering, functional analysis and system architecture definition and experience with early project phases, particularly Phase 0/A and concept development

Ability to define system interfaces, operational concepts and end-to-end information flows and experience in trade-off analysis, risk assessment and technology maturity evaluation

Ability to integrate heterogeneous elements such as ground-based sensors, external data sources, models and service platforms into a coherent system and familiarity with ECSS engineering processes and technical reviews

Experience working across multidisciplinary scientific, engineering and industrial teams

Knowledge of the specific features of defence and dual-use systems

Sound knowledge of space weather phenomena and the Sun–Earth interaction chain, including an understanding of space weather impacts on space- and ground-based operational systems; knowledge of impacts on defence-related applications will be an asset

Knowledge of ground- and space-based space Weather observation techniques and associated data products

Understanding of space weather modelling, forecasting and model integration, including knowledge of end-to-end operational space weather services, from observations and modelling to product generation, end user alerting and dissemination of relevant information

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

A master's degree in engineering or a scientific discipline is required for this post together with 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

You should have:

• the ability to summarise complex information in clear and concise reports;
• good communication skills, both verbal and written;
• the ability to work effectively in an international team environment;
• strong problem-solving skills to deal with day-to-day operational challenges, together with demonstrated planning and organisational skills;
• a strong result orientation with the ability to set priorities and present practical solutions both orally and in writing;
• the ability to manage challenging situations proactively and constructively and to be customer-focused.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at [e-mail] .

Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following states: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.